Welkom - An officer of the Welkom Vehicle Identification Unit was found murdered this morning.

Free State police spokesperson Puleng Motsoeneng says the body of the 44-year-old captain was discovered by police when they investigated a suspicious vehicle parked near the Tugela Circle in St Helena.

She says his body was lying near the vehicle. He had stab wounds to his neck as well as leg and head injuries.

Motsoeneng says he was on call during the weekend.

The motive for the killing is still unknown and no arrests have been made.